Pharmacy Visitors Research Articles

The role of pharmaceutical care in the use of rifaximin for the treatment of diarrhea

the management of diarrhea represents a prevalent issue within the realm of healthcare. Rifaximin is recommended to treat traveler's diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. At the same time, it is important to rationally use an antimicrobial drug to prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance. Aim: to evaluate the role of pharmaceutical care in using rifaximin to treat diarrhea, based on a questionnaire. A questionnaire survey was done among 55 pharmacy professionals and 42 pharmacy visitors regarding the dispensing and use of rifaximin for diarrhea treatment. The survey of pharmacy visitors revealed that rifaximin was used for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome (32 cases), traveler's diarrhea (7 cases), and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (3 cases). Patients did not undergo stool culture before rifaximin prescription, which could have prevented antimicrobial resistance and ruled out other causes of diarrhea. It was found that 14% of respondents reported improvement the next day, while 83.3% reported improvement within three days. Pharmacists can educate visitors about the importance of completing the treatment course. Five percent of respondents reported nausea as an adverse reaction. Pharmacists dispensed rifaximin for the treatment of diarrhea in adults almost three times more often than in children. The tablet form of the drug was used in 94.5% of cases, while the oral suspension was used in 5.5% of cases. The majority of pharmacy visitors (89.0%) received rifaximin with a doctor's prescription, and 10.9% without a prescription, which emphasizes the importance of pharmaceutical care to prevent irrational use of the drug. The results of the study show that 92.7% of pharmacists provide recommendations on the safety of rifaximin use, and 78.2% recommend abstaining from alcohol during treatment. Only 21.8% of pharmacists warn about the possible staining of urine, which can cause concern for patients. The majority of pharmacists (89.1%) systematically ask women about possible pregnancy, which indicates their awareness of safe pharmacotherapy. Pharmacists also clarify the simultaneous use of rifaximin with other drugs: 32.7% ask about taking oral contraceptives, 7.3% – antiarrhythmic drugs, and 3.6% – warfarin. mailto:https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?ui=D002648Pharmacists can enhance the effectiveness of rifaximin treatment by preventing its uncontrolled use, emphasizing the importance of completing the treatment course and informing about possible adverse reactions. When providing pharmaceutical care to visitors taking rifaximin, pharmacists should educate them about potential changes in urine color. Additionally, pharmaceutical workers advise women taking oral contraceptives to use additional contraceptive methods while taking rifaximin.

Traditional Beliefs and Real Influence of Full Moon Days on the Behavior of Community Pharmacy Customers in Estonia

Traditional beliefs about the influence of the moon’s phases on human well-being and health remain vague in Estonia. The study hypothesized that Estonian pharmacists have noticed a periodic increase in the number of problematic pharmacy visitors, which can be associated with full moon days (3 days before and after). The observational study was conducted in 22 community pharmacies in Estonia (11 in standard and 11 in blind group), a total of 76 pharmacists filled out an observation diary daily for 10 months. Additionally, a questionnaire was used for 400 randomly selected employees of pharmacies. During the full moon period, the number of conflicts in the community pharmacies increased by 2.7 in the standard group and 3 times in the blind group (p<0.01). Pharmacists’ opinions about the full moon’s effect on the behavior of pharmacy visitors and themselves are described. Also, the sales of medicines for nervous system disorders increase on full moon days. Sensitive customers believe in the influence of the full moon and experience changes thanks to autosuggestion. The behavior of visitors is emotionally more unstable, with an increased level of anxiety. There is a need for further research on the impact of moon phases on behavioral aspects when providing medical and pharmaceutical care.

The role of the pharmacist in the system of rational use of drugs for responsible self-treatment

Relevance. In the healthcare system of the Russian Federation, there is the use of drugs by the population without a physician’s appointment (including prescription leave), as well as violation of the principles of responsible self-medication. Under the current conditions, a pharmacist can play a key role in providing pharmaceutical care within the framework of responsible self-treatment and providing citizens with accessible information on the rational use of drugs.Objective. The study of the role of the pharmacist in the system of rational use of drugs by visitors of pharmacy organizations.Materials and methods. The study used methods of content analysis, sociological research (observation), comparative and mathematical statistical analysis. Regulatory documents regulating the activities of pharmacists were analyzed, as well as monitoring of pharmacy visitors who applied to a pharmacist in order to purchase drugs.Results. The professional standards of pharmacists contain requirements for ensuring or organizing the rational use of drugs by the population for the purpose of responsible self-treatment. The majority of pharmacy visitors (63.8%) purchase drugs bypassing a medical professional. A significant proportion of buyers (58.7%) do not know or approximately know what caused their poor health. At the same time, the proportion of pharmacy visitors who assume that they do not need to be prescribed by a medical professional is quite high and amounts to 41.3%.Conclusion. A low level of readiness of pharmacy visitors for the rational use of drugs has been established and the need for regular educational work on the part of pharmacists on responsible self-medication has been identified.

Tingkat Pengetahuan Swamedikasi Pengunjung Apotek X Kota Tanjungpinang

Self-medication is a person's attempt to treat their illness without consulting a doctor. The aim of this research was to measure the level of self-medication knowledge of pharmacy visitors. This type of research is descriptive research with cross-sectional data collection. The population was all pharmacy visitors who carried out self-medication and samples were taken using purposive sampling, that is, they met the inclusion criteria. Data collection techniques are based on answers to questionnaires that have been filled in by respondents. Data is calculated based on the characteristics of respondents according to age, education level and type of work, then the level of knowledge is calculated based on the characteristics of the respondents. From the research results, the number of visitors who carry out self-medication is in the 15-29 year age group, the education level is middle school and the type of work is employees. The level of self-medication knowledge of visitors to the X KotaTanjung pinang pharmacy is in the sufficient category, 39%, in the poor category, 36%, and in the good category, 25%.

Features of pharmaceutical consulting by specialists of pharmacy institutions for the problem of hair loss in pharmacy visitors

Introduction. The problem of hair loss affects different segments of the population, regardless of gender or age, and may be a consequence of diseases of various etiologies. Most patients with hair loss problems go directly to pharmacies, bypassing the doc­tor's office. A pharmaceutical worker becomes a key figure in the process of advising and informing patients on the appropriate choice and use of medicines, dietary supplements and cosmetic products in case of a problem. The aim of the work was to study the information and educational needs of specialists of pharmacy institutions of the Republic of Crimea, as well as their awareness of pharmaceutical counseling for pharmacy visitors suffering from hair loss (alopecia). Materials and methods. The assessment of the competence of pharmacy employees in dealing with hair loss problems through compe­tent pharmaceutical counseling and providing information to patients was carried out using a questionnaire. The frequency of the re­spondents' choices of the response options was reflected through the compilation of distribution series for each question. Results. According to pharmaceutical workers, people aged 31 to 45 years old (45%) most often resort to help in a pharmacy. The most in demand are cosmetic products for topical use (47%), as well as dietary supplements and drugs for systemic use (38%). The analysis of the assortment of pharmacies revealed the predominance in the pharmaceutical market of cosmetics for scalp care and hair restoration (39.8%), dietary supplements (31.5%), as well as over-the-counter medicines (25.9%). The main causes of hair loss were stress conditions (18.1%), diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (14.6%), hormonal imbalance (17.7%), insufficient blood supply to hair follicles (15.4%). The majority of respondents answered in the affirmative to the question about their desire to improve their knowledge on the problem of al­opecia, as they came to the conclusion that there was a lack of knowledge to fully advise pharmacy visitors in order to solve the problem of hair loss. Conclusion. The results of the analysis indicate the need for educational courses aimed at improving the skills of specialists of pharmacy institutions in competent pharmaceutical counseling of visitors with the problem of hair loss.

ОСНОВНЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ ФАРМАЦЕВТИЧЕСКОГО КОНСУЛЬТИРОВАНИЯ СЕДАТИВНЫМИ ЛЕКАРСТВЕННЫМИ СРЕДСТВАМИ

Preserving human health, increasing life expectancy, reducing diseases and preventing them are the most important tasks of the modern medical and pharmaceutical community, the achievement of which, among other things, is impossible without the provision of proper pharmaceutical consultation and the availability of affordable and high-quality medicines. Providing incomplete or inaccessible information when providing information and consulting services threatens pharmacy visitors not only with the lack of a positive effect in treatment, but also with the possibility of causing harm to the body. The purpose of the work is to compile a recommendatory algorithm for the provision of pharmaceutical consultation using the example of drugs with a sedative effect. The materials of the study are instructions for the medical use of drugs, as well as leaflets with information for patients on the state of the state register of registered drugs for December 2023. In the course of the work, the main aspects of pharmaceutical consulting were identified, the regulatory framework relating to the provision of information and consulting services represented by the following documents: Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated August 31, 2016 No. 647n “On approval of the Rules for Good Pharmacy Practice of Medicines for Medical Use”; Order of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation dated March 9, 2016 No. 91n “On approval of the professional standard “Pharmacist””; Order of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation dated May 31, 2021 N 349n “On approval of the professional standard “Pharmacist””. Based on the results of the study, the characteristics of the selection and offer of sedative drugs are presented in detail, and an algorithm for the selection and offer of drugs with a sedative effect from the group of over-the-counter anxiolytics is compiled.

The study of the professional activity of pharmacy specialists in modern conditions

Aim. To study the peculiarities of the professional activity of pharmacists in dispensing medicines and other pharmacy products in modern conditions, characterized by a high level of risks and uncertainties. Materials and methods. Materials and methods are based on the use of statistical, scientific and monographic materials and the results of our personal research. Scientific methods of analysis, abstract and logical, comparison, surveys, and sociological (questionnaires) methods using Google forms were applied. A total of 194 рharmacy specialists (PhS) took part in the survey. The results were processed using modern Microsoft Excel software products. Results and discussion. The general requirements for the organization of the pharmacist’s workplace for dispensing medicines have been determined. Important professional and business qualities of the personality of PhS (14 in total) have been identified, among which the first place is occupied by the presence of pharmaceutical education, the conditions for successful professional activity (20 directions), a list of individual practical actions that PhS perform most often (13 actions). The necessary practical skills that PhS should possess in today’s conditions (10 skills) have been identified. The features of pharmacy visitors and their requests during communication with PhS have been studied. Possible options for communication between them and professional response of PhS from the point of view of professional ethics and deontology, respectful attitude to visitors under any conditions have been clarified. The peculiarities of communication between PhS and other healthcare specialists, including doctors, and colleagues in the pharmacy team have been determined. Conclusions. The results of the survey made it possible to determine the peculiarities of the professional activity of PhS in modern conditions. The correct assessment and rational use of human resources can have a positive impact on the economic performance of the pharmacy, pharmaceutical supply of the population, medical military and civilian institutions in today’s conditions under the influence of crisis phenomena.

Role of Community Pharmacist in Asthma Management: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice.

To investigate knowledge, attitude, and practice of asthma management counseling and the perceived barriers by community pharmacists. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 416 community pharmacists using an online-based questionnaire. The questionnaire included five parts that assessed socio-demographics and medical references used to seek drug-related information, pharmacists' knowledge (7 items), attitudes (5 items), practice (22 items) and the barriers for the provision of asthma management counseling (10 items). Binary logistic regression was conducted to find the variables that were significantly and independently associated with knowledge, attitude and asthma management counseling practice. Increased years of experience was associated with decreased knowledge (OR = 0.918, 95% Cl (0.869:0.970), P = 0.002) and less positive attitude toward asthma management (OR = 0.876, 95% Cl. (0.821:0.935), P < 0.001), while working in independent community pharmacy (OR = 2.097, 95% Cl. (1.273:3.454), P = 0.004) and increased awareness of asthma management guidelines (OR = 1.60, 95% CI. (1.044:2.453), P = 0.031) increased the odds of being in the high knowledge group. In contrast, increasing the daily number of pharmacy visitors OR = 1.009, 95% Cl. (1.001:1.016), P = 0.024) and having a pharmacy degree (OR = 2.330, 95% Cl. (1.256:4.326), P = 0.007) increased the odds of having a positive attitude. Male pharmacists (OR = 0.553, 95% Cl. (0.350:0.873), P = 0.011) and having bachelor in pharmacy (OR = 0.354, 95% Cl. (0.179:0.700), P = 0.003) decreased the odds of being in the high practice group. On the other hand, increased awareness of asthma management guidelines tripled the odds of being in the high practice group (OR = 3.067, 95% Cl. (1.964:4.787), P < 0.001). The current study findings offer valuable insights into the gaps in knowledge, attitude, and practice of asthma management counseling among community pharmacists, as well as the barriers and factors that impede the provision of these services. These insights serve as a guide for developing future strategies aimed at enhancing the role of pharmacists in asthma care.

PHARMACEUTICAL CARE IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE RATIONAL USE OF SEDATIVE DRUGS

Backround. Stress is one of the most urgent problems of modern society, which determines the increase in the consumption of sedative drugs.&#x0D; Aim: to analyze the role of pharmaceutical care in ensuring the rational use of sedatives.&#x0D; Materials and methods. 124 pharmacists and 101 pharmacy visitors were surveyed. The work used methods: standardization, sociological survey, graphics, and statistics.&#x0D; Results. It was found that almost 80% of respondents reported sleep disorders and anxiety, while only 27% sought help from a specialist. More than 90% of pharmacists confirmed that since the beginning of the military invasion, the number of requests from visitors to dispense sedative drugs, mostly without a doctor's prescription, has increased significantly. Thus, almost 40% of respondents used self-prescription and self-medication of sedatives.&#x0D; It was found that pharmacists (90%) recommend more often, and visitors (56%) choose herbal sedatives. In addition, 70% of pharmacists noted requests from visitors to dispense the drug hidazepam without a doctor's prescription. When dispensing sedatives, more than half of the surveyed pharmacists do not use the "Symptomatic treatment of stress" protocol. Visitors to pharmacies, who mostly did not receive recommendations on the rules for the use of sedatives, noted the appearance of undesirable reactions after their use, such as drowsiness and weakness during the day (48.8%), sleep disorders (22.0%), dizziness (34.1 %), development of addiction (22.0%).&#x0D; Conclusion. Providing high-quality pharmaceutical care is a prerequisite for effective and safe sedative therapy. At the same time, it is important to conduct thematic improvement for pharmacists in psychopharmacology.

The study of pharmaceutical awareness of the population as the modern society need in the rational use of medicines

Aim. To study pharmaceutical awareness of the population in the rational use of medicines using innovative marketing tools.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The results of an electronic survey of visitors to pharmacies using questionnaires of the author’s social project “Important facts about medicines” implemented by pharmacies are presented. The data analysis was accompanied by the use of sociological survey methods, descriptive statistics, graphic analysis, grouping methods and generalization of data.&#x0D; Results. Based on the data generalization the existing correlation between the level of involving pharmacy visitors in the project with the interest in obtaining important facts about medicines was found. According to the number of responses provided by visitors during the project implementation, it can be argued that the most attractive was the information about the impact of medicines while driving, and half as attractive were the facts about the peculiarities of using medicines for children. It was determined that the most general important facts about medicines were well-known for the project participants; on average 53 % of respondents had a sufficient level of awareness. Thus, the highest level of awareness was determined regarding the side effects in case of simultaneous use of medicines and alcohol; increased blood pressure in case of medicines containing caffeine; strict compliance with the patient information leaflet for taking medicines. A sufficient number of project participants (44 % of the total number of pharmacy visitors who responded) indicated that they were aware of the facts about the peculiarities of using medicines for children under one year of age. The level of pharmaceutical awareness of pharmacy visitors concerning important facts about the effects of medicines on the human body while driving was the lowest; it was 33% among all pharmacy visitors who responded. For example, pharmacy visitors were not aware of what antihistamines should not be taken by drivers.&#x0D; Conclusions. Based on the analysis a high level of self-motivation of visitors to expand the range of important knowledge about medicines and the effectiveness of innovative marketing tools to create pharmaceutical awareness of the population in issues of the rational use of medicines has been revealed.&#x0D; Key words: pharmaceutical information; pharmaceutical awareness of the population; responsible self-medication; social project.

Application of Hypertension Using Poster Media for Pharmacy Visitors

The results of a preliminary study show that the prevalence of hypertension in XYZ Pharmacy is 5.00% in 2021. However, health promotion efforts have not been carried out on this problem. One of the media that can be used for health promotion is posters. The formulation of the research problem is how the interest and understanding of visitors to Apotek xyz towards hypertension poster media is seen from the design, message content and place of installation. The purpose of the study was to determine the interest and understanding of visitors to the xyz pharmacy. The research method used is descriptive qualitative with phenomenological design. The subjects in this study were visitors to the xyz pharmacy. Another informant is a health promotion officer who is the Head of the Pharmacy. Data was collected through focus group discussions (FGD), in-depth interviews, and observations. The results showed that overall, most of the visitors were interested in and understood the hypertension poster. The Sundanese version of hypertension poster is more accepted as a health promotion medium by pharmacy visitors who have an interest in the design and content of the message in the hypertension poster. The conclusion of the study is that pharmacy visitors are interested and can understand hypertension posters..

Self-medication and ILI etiologies among individuals presenting at pharmacies with influenza-like illness: Guatemala City, 2018 influenza season

ObjectivesWe aimed to characterize the proportion of clients presenting to community pharmacies with influenza-like illness (ILI) and the severity of their illness; the proportion with detectable influenza A, influenza B, and other pathogens (i.e., parainfluenza I, II, and III, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus); and to describe their self-medication practices.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in six pharmacies in Guatemala City. Study personnel collected nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs from participants who met the ILI case definition and who were self-medicating for the current episode. Participants were tested for influenza A and B and other pathogens using real-time RT-PCR. Participants’ ILI-associated self-medication practices were documented using a questionnaire.ResultsOf all patients entering the pharmacy during peak hours who responded to a screening survey (n = 18,016) 6% (n = 1029) self-reported ILI symptoms, of which 45% (n = 470/1029) met the study case definition of ILI. Thirty-one percent (148/470) met inclusion criteria, of which 87% (130/148) accepted participation and were enrolled in the study. Among 130 participants, nearly half tested positive for viral infection (n = 55, 42.3%) and belonged to groups at low risk for complications from influenza. The prevalence of influenza A was 29% (n = 35). Thirteen percent of the study population (n = 17) tested positive for a respiratory virus other than influenza. Sixty-four percent of participants (n = 83) reported interest in receiving influenza vaccination if it were to become available in the pharmacy. Medications purchased included symptom-relieving multi-ingredient cold medications (n = 43/100, 43%), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 23, 23%), and antibiotics (n = 16, 16%). Antibiotic use was essentially equal among antibiotic users regardless of viral status. The broad-spectrum antibiotics ceftriaxone and azithromycin were the most common antibiotics purchased.ConclusionsDuring a typical influenza season, a relatively low proportion of all pharmacy visitors were experiencing influenza symptoms. A high proportion of clients presenting to pharmacies with ILI tested positive for a respiratory virus. Programs that guide appropriate use of antibiotics in this population are needed and become increasingly important during pandemics caused by respiratory viral pathogens.

The study on the effectiveness of implementing marketing developments in the activities of pharmacies

Aim: substantiation of methodical approaches to assessing the effectiveness of marketing developments to determine the quality of service to pharmacy visitors, the formation and evaluation of their loyalty and conducting research on the effectiveness of the implementation of these developments in the activities of pharmacies. Materials and methods: pharmacy reporting, logical, comparative analysis, grouping, content analysis, economic and statistical methods. Results. Methodical approaches to the evaluation of the effectiveness of marketing developments to determine the quality of service to pharmacy visitors, the formation and evaluation of their loyalty are substantiated. It is proposed to determine the results of marketing measures of social and psychological orientation taking into account the time lag (one year after implementation), and the interpretation of indicators through the prism of the relevant results of the control pharmacy, where no marketing developments were implemented (to eliminate seasonal fluctuations and other external factors). The average value of a check per year, the number of checks per year and the average value of a check in the month of the beginning of the implementation of these developments were chosen as indicators for assessing the effectiveness of marketing developments. It is shown that in pharmacies where marketing developments were implemented, the improvement of the researched indicators grew at a faster rate compared to the control pharmacy. Conclusions. Researches have shown the presence of socio-economic effect in pharmacies in the implementation of marketing developments to determine the quality of service to pharmacy visitors, the formation and evaluation of their loyalty. Key words: efficiency of marketing developments; measures of social and psychological orientation; time lag; control pharmacy; socio-economic effect.

Substantiation of the perspectivity of improving of the population informing about the criteria of the correct choice of modern multivitamin drugs

The aim. Determination of the need to raise awareness of the population about multivitamins and the criteria for their rational choice.&#x0D; Materials and research methods. To achieve the goal of the study, it was necessary to develop a questionnaire for visitors to pharmacies and carry out an anonymous survey of them. All adult visitors of the pharmacy were attracted to the survey.&#x0D; The developed questionnaire consisted of 3 parts and contained 32 questions processed in the course of our own research.&#x0D; Research results. Among the pharmacy visitors we surveyed, the majority were between the ages of 35–55, approximately equally divided were men and women who mainly lived in the Kiev region (87 %), were not students and did not have educational levels of bachelor or master, and had no relation in health care education.&#x0D; Summarizing the information obtained in the course of processing questionnaires with the answers of visitors to pharmacies, it can be noted that in the surveyed group of respondents there is a certain interest and indifference to the discussed aspects, but quite often there is a lack of knowledge in this regard.&#x0D; Conclusions. In the course of analyzing the results of the questionnaire survey, the level of awareness of the population regarding general information about the pharmacology of multivitamin drugs and the criteria for their correct choice was determined. From the data obtained, it can be concluded that on many issues the respondents showed an insufficient level of knowledge, which justifies the need for additional information about multivitamins, and indicates that better it should be done with participation of a specialist with a pharmaceutical education or physician.&#x0D; Mostly the population lacks knowledge on the issues listed in the second part of the questionnaire, namely, on general information about the biological and pharmacological properties of vitamins.&#x0D; It was found that the information obtained from the Internet or other media, including advertising, has a significant impact on the awareness and decision of the respondents

DETERMINANTS OF SELF MEDICATION RATIONALITY IN PHARMACY VISITORS

Background: As a developing country, Indonesia has a high prevalence of self-medication, with a potential risk ofirrationally using drugs. Meanwhile, factors such as educational level, economic status, age, gender, knowledge level affects the rationality of drug use. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the factors related to the rationality of self-medication in order to improve drug use rationality in Indonesia. Method: An observational analysis study was used with a cross-sectional design involving 193 pharmacy visitors. Furthermore, this study was conducted in April-May 2018, and data were collected through guided interviews and filling out questionnaires for socio-demographic data, level of self-medicated knowledge, and drug use rationality. Also, sampling was done by consecutive non-random sampling, and data analysis used SPSS V.21, Chi-square and Fisher statistical tests with a significance level of 0.05. Results : Out of the 193 subjects, 59.6% were aged 17-25 years, 59.1% were female, 62.7% had moderate education level, 50.3% had moderate levels of self-medicated knowledge, and 70.5% were rational drug users. Based on the chi-square and fisher test, it was found that gender, educational and knowledge levels were significantly related to treatment rationality with a value of p = 0.014, p = 0.000, and p = 0.000. Conclusion:There was a significant correlation between gender, educational level and level of self-medicated knowledge of the drug use rationality. Keywords: self-medication, rationality, drugs

Research of ethics and deontological aspects in pharmacies

The aim of the study was to study the ethical and deontological aspects related to the professional activities of pharmacists. Materials and methods. To achieve the goal of the study, an analysis of scientific sources on ethical and deontological issues related to the professional activities of pharmacists (pharmacists) was carried. During the research, the methods of information search, systematization, comparison, and generalization, as well as sociological research methods were used. The object of the study was the results of questionnaires and interviews of visitors and employees of pharmacy chains of KP “Prymula”; pharmacy chains that are part of the company “Apteka-Mahnoliia”: Pharmacy ANC, Kopiika and pharmacies of the social project “Blahodiia”; pharmacy chains that are part of the company Med-service. Descriptive statistics methods were used to present the obtained data. To determine the significance of individual factors (Wij), obtained because of the questionnaire are listed to the corresponding specific weight of the component. Results. The systematization of the following factors: which determine the quality of service; related to the purchase of drugs (medicines); which determine the priority of qualities of pharmacies; determining the relationship between a pharmacist and a doctor. It was found that the most negative impact on pharmacy visitors, from the point of view of consumers, was the inattention of the pharmacist, his mistakes, irritability, rudeness, incompetence, as well as the high price of drugs, queues, and slow service. From the point of view of pharmacists, pharmacy visitors were most negatively affected by rudeness, incompetence of pharmacy employees, irritability, the price of drugs, the range of drugs, the presence of queues, and slow service. The results of the assessment of the parameters that determine the relationship between the pharmacist and the doctor showed that, in general, pharmacists maintain the authority of the doctor in the eyes of visitors and, along with the latter, carry out educational work among the population. However, a fifth of respondents assume the functions of a doctor, which is completely unacceptable. Using the technology of sociological survey, the analysis was carried out and, based on ranking, the leading rational and emotional factors that form loyalty for certain segments of the professional activity of pharmacies using ethical and deontological principles were identified. Conclusions. The systematization of the following factors: which determine the quality of service; related to the purchase of drugs that cause dissatisfaction; which determine the dissatisfaction of visitors to pharmacies; which determine the priority of qualities of pharmacies; determining the relationship between pharmacist and doctor. Using the technology of sociological survey, the analysis was carried out and, based on ranking, the leading rational and emotional factors that form loyalty for certain segments of the professional activity of pharmacies using ethical and deontological principles were identified. It is established that the views on consumer dissatisfaction with visiting pharmacies differ insignificantly from the views of pharmacists. Pharmacist visitors are most negatively affected by the inattention and rudeness of the pharmacist, the high price of drugs, the presence of queues and slow service. It is established that, in general, pharmacists maintain the authority of the doctor in the eyes of visitors and, along with the latter, conduct educational work among the population.

THE SPECIFIC WORK FOR REQUIEREMENTS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PERSONNEL DUE TO COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic has become a challenge for the entire healthcare system in Russia. Pharmaceutical specialists, like all medical workers, are at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic, as they are providing quality pharmaceutical care to the population. The sociological study was carried out to analyze the particular characteristics of pharmaceutical personnel during this period, as it becomes more relevant to report the new conditions of labor organisation and development of new pharmaceutical consulting standards. The study revises challenges in the provision of pharmaceutical services, assessment of preventive measures in regards to protection of the personnel from infection, as well as demand to raise awareness about COVID-19 preventive measures among the pharmacy visitors.

Phytoneering drugs for the treatment of cough: ways to provide the rational herbal medicine

Diseases of the respiratory system occupy an important place in the structure of morbidity in the population of Ukraine, being only second to diseases of the cardiovascular system in prevalence. Patients with a respiratory pathology make up a significant part of the pharmacy visitors. In most cases, at the first symptoms of such diseases, patients begin to be treated on their own with the help of non-prescription drugs, and quite often the first person they turn to is a pharmacist. A striking example of the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine is the symptomatic treatment of cough as one of the most characteristic symptoms of the respiratory tract pathology. The use of herbal products with the antitussive, expectorant, mucolytic action has a long history, and currently it does not lose its significance. The clinical efficacy of herbal products is determined by the mechanism of their specific action, and the rational choice of the optimal drug taking into account the cause of the cough, its nature and the characteristics of the course of the inflammatory process in the respiratory organs, allows eliminating cough or effectively managing it. Bronchipret® is a herbal product of “Bionorica SE” company, which is one of the most studied and widely used in medical practice. The drug is indicated for the treatment of respiratory tract diseases accompanied by cough and sputum formation, including acute and chronic bronchitis. The main and well-studied pharmacological effects of Bronchipret® are secretolytic/mucolytic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial and bronchospasmolytic ones. The pharmacological effects listed are due to a complex of biologically active substances (BAS) of such plants as the root of spring primrose, thyme herb, ivy leaf. All medicinal plants that make up the “active core” of the drug have a long history of their use in folk medicine. Moreover, their various beneficial effects on the human body in different diseases and conditions have been confirmed by empirical experience. The drug is produced in three dosage forms (drops, syrup, tablets), and it determines the targeting of its prescription to different categories of patients. The drug has a high evidence base and has been studied at the cellular and molecular levels. Conclusions. In the case of choosing a herbal medicine for responsible self-medication, drug consumers can rely on their own experience, but most of them trust the knowledge of a pharmaceutical professional, and this fact increases the pharmacist’s responsibility for the treatment prescribed. Therefore, it should be the choice of a drug with an optimal efficacy/safety ratio, which is determined from the standpoint of evidence-based medicine. It is precisely these requirements that the phytoneering drug Bronchipret® meets.

OPTIMIZING THE QUALITY OF CUSTOMER SERVICE IN PHARMACY ORGANIZATIONS

By surveying clients of pharmacy organizations, we've analyzed quality of service. It was found that pharmaceu-tical specialists do not always inform pharmacy visitors about the regimen and doses of the drug (MP), the rules for storing it at home, and about interactions with other drugs; most buyers find it difficult to answer the question of what is the International Nonproprietary Name of a Medicinal Product (INN) and how synonyms and ana-logues differ from each other; visitors to pharmacies are not always provided with information about the availa-bility of medicinal products from different manufacturers and medicinal products with different prices; in most cas-es, if the secondary packaging is violated, the pharmacy customers are not given instructions (a copy of the in-structions) on the use of the dispensed drug. A standard operational procedure "Order of realization of medicines without a prescription" was developed on the basis of received data.

PROBLEMS OF RESPONSIBLE SELF-MEDICATION OF ALLERGY SYMPTOMS AND FARMACEUTICAL COUNSELING

Cure of allergy symptoms reported by a patient with the help of non-prescription antiallergic drugs, is one of the important aspects of a responsible self-medication.The aimof the study is to assess the peculiarities of consumers’ behavior as pharmacy visitors, when choosing non-prescription antiallergic drugs, and to identify potential problems of pharmaceutical counseling for allergy symptoms regarding the responsible self-medication.Materials and methods. Sociological survey in the form of a questionnaire; graphoanalytical and comparative analyses.Results. The profile of an over-the-counter antiallergic drugs buyer in the pharmacies of Kazan was assessed in the following way: it is a woman aged 18–44 of a middle level of income, having a family of 3–4 people, ready to spend from 101 to 500 rubles on the purchase of antiallergic drugs, buying anti-allergic drugs not for the first time. The main reasons to seek for treatment were skin rash, redness and itching, which had also been observed in the past. The allergic nature of the disease had already been confirmed by the doctor. For the average consumer of over-the-counter antiallergic drugs, the most important criteria for choosing a medicine were: efficiency, safety, the doctor’s recommendations and price. The medicines were purchased for the visitors themselves or their children. The customers were satisfied with the choice of non-prescription antiallergic medicines available in the pharmacy. The visitors generally trusted the pharmacists’ advice and recognized them as health professionals, but considered that the main goal was not only to provide a pharmaceutical care, but also to profit from the sale of the drugs. The following flaws of pharmaceutical counseling when dispensing non-prescription antiallergic drugs, were identified: an improper diagnosis by a pharmaceutical specialist, the lack of recommendations to consult a doctor, incomplete provision of information on the use, storage, and the possibility of interaction with other drugs and food.Conclusion. Misdiagnosis and incomplete provision of information by pharmaceutical specialists on antiallergic the drugs that are approved for the over-the-counter dispensing, require the implementation of a pharmaceutical consultation algorithm for the visitors contacting a pharmacy with allergy symptoms.